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"Hi, Decker," Marian said. "Can I get you something?"
"I'll take the special to go," he said, eying the board. A prime rib dinner sounded perfect.
Marian put in his order and then came back with a beer. "You look like you could use a drink."
"Thanks. I've been cleaning out Eleanor's house."
"It sounds like that's a big job. Chloe said it's a never-ending pit."
"It feels that way." He sipped his beer, then said, "Have you seen Chloe today?"
"No. She was going to come in, but I guess Joel is finally back."
He was surprised by that piece of information. "Really? I thought Joel was coming home tomorrow."
"Apparently, he got an earlier flight. I got my sister to babysit for Chloe so they could get together."
"Well, that's great." He took another long draught of beer. Joel was back, and Chloe had a babysitter. Sounded like a perfect date night. He needed to be happy about that.
When his meal was ready, he took it upstairs and ate at his kitchen table while he watched a baseball game and tried not to think about Chloe and Joel having their long-awaited reunion.
Two hours later, the game was just ending when he was surprised by a knock at his door. He was even more surprised to find Chloe standing outside.
"Don't close the door in my face," she said, putting up her hand. "I need to talk to you, Decker."
"Okay," he said warily. "Come on in."
"Well, that's a better reception than I got yesterday," she said dryly.
"I'm sorry about that," he said, as she entered the apartment. "I was having a rough day."
"I know," she said, meeting his gaze. "How are you feeling now?"
"Better."
"Good. I have to admit, I wasn't sure if you were still here or if you'd left."
"I was tempted," he admitted. "But I made a commitment to you."
"I told you that you could leave. I don't want to force you to stay. You never anticipated what you were going to learn about your family when you took the job. I won't hold you to your commitment. It wouldn't be right."
"I don't make promises I won't keep. It's something my father taught me a long time ago. I'll finish the job I started."
"I'm relieved to hear that," she said.
"I went by the house today. At first, I didn't think I could stand being in there, but as I thought about what I had learned, about my relationship to Ellie, all of her things took on new meaning. It was weird. I even turned the train on."
Chloe smiled. "That's not weird at all. You discovered that you and Ellie had a special connection, and you wanted to feel it." She paused. "Do you believe in fate?"
"No. I think we make our fate. But I know why you're asking."
"Because it feels like the universe wanted you to find the house, wanted you to see what Eleanor had saved for you," she said.
"It feels like that," he admitted. "But it's probably just a coincidence."
"That's not as exciting of a story," she said, annoyance in her gaze.
"I know. I brought back some personal items and cleared out most of the living room. I'll keep going until I get to the end." He paused. "I want to apologize for how I treated you last night, Chloe."
